Duterte to 'hulidap' cops: Not in Davao or I'll kill you

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Mayor Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte issued a characteristic warning against cops who may get involved in criminal activities.

In a video released by the Davao City government, Duterte was asked by reporters for his reaction to the recent incident, dubbed "hulidap" in Metro Manila, where police officers allegedly abducted a victim from whom they netted some P12 million.

"For respect sa mga mayors doon, I cannot be judgmental. I can only say ... for the Philippine National Police to raise the vigilance now because crime is in the upsurge," Duterte said.

Davao City, however, has a low crime rate, with the mayor adding that wrongdoers see themselves killed before they can commit an offense again.

"Pero dito sa Davao, iba ang istorya dito. 'Wag ka mag-hulidap-hulidap dito, patayin kita. I'll shoot you. Ang pulis na mag-hulidap dito, barilin kita. Do not do it in my city," Duterte said.

He also warned dishonest cops not to accept an assignment to be in Davao.

"Ilan ba ang syudad sa Pilipinas, 72? Mamili ka ng syudad na assignment mo, 'wag lang dito sa Davao, kasi kung dito sa Davao, putang ina patayin talaga kita," the mayor added.

Police officers in his city are generally known for their integrity, Duterte explained.

"Ang pulis sa Davao, matino, except for rare instances na involved sa kidnapping, droga, e namamatay naman sila.

Having issued similar statements in the past, Duterte has been criticized by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and other rights group against taking the law into his own hands.

This time, however, Duterte advised CHR to instead dissuade criminals from setting foot in Davao City.

"Sabihin mo 'yan sa human rights, para sabihin ng Human Rights doon sa pulis, 'wag kayong gumawa ng masama doon kasi barilin kayo ni Duterte," he said.

"Hindi yung human rights na sabihin sa'kin na masama din [and] nasabi ko, kasi tama yung sinasabi ko. Ang dapat magpa-seminar sila, sabihin nila, 'Hoy, pulis, 'wag kayo magpa-hulidap sa Davao, 'wag kayo sa droga, kasi papatayin talaga kayo nung mayor doon, and it has happened and it will happen again," he added.

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